Sean Spicer refuses to confirm or deny if Trump has secret recording devices in White House

Press Secretary says President's tweet wasn't a threat to the former FBI Director, just a statement of fact

Trump has warned that Comey should hope there aren't recordings of their conversations (AP)

The White House has refused to confirm or deny whether someone in the West Wing is in possession of a recording of a dinner between President Donald Trump and former FBI Director James Comey that Mr Trump has implied could challenge Mr Comey’s description of that evening.

“That’s not a threat. He’s simply stated a fact,” White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer said, during the daily press briefing when asked if it was appropriate for Mr Trump to write a tweet that said Mr Comey better hope there wasn’t a recording of the dinner. “The tweet speaks for itself.”

Mr Trump and Mr Comey have presented two competing narratives about what happened between them during a January dinner in which it is said the President asked Mr Comey to pledge loyalty to him.

Mr Comey, according to associates who say they heard about the interaction back then, only said that he could promise “honesty.” Mr Trump also reportedly asked Mr Comey during that dinner if the FBI was investigating him personally — a question that some have said is a breach of protocol.

The White House denies that Mr Trump asked him to pledge his loyalty.

Mr Trump’s decision to fire the FBI director has been scandalous to say the least. After Mr Comey’s dismissal, many have wondered about the timing and whether or not it might have had something to do with the FBI’s investigation into the Trump campaigns ties to Russia.

Mr Trump tweeted before the press conference Friday that Mr Comey “better hope that there are no “tapes” of our conversations before he starts leaking to the press!”

When asked about that tweet — which reporters characterised as a threat — Mr Spicer largely dodged the question, saying that the tweet speaks for itself. One reporter noted that Mr Comey, as a private citizen, is guaranteed his First Amendment right to speak about any non-classified experiences he might have, regardless of Mr Trump’s tweet. Mr Spicer agreed, noting that all Americans are entitled to their First Amendment rights, but said Mr Comey should not divulge classified information.